Wire puller



March 22, 1932. w. J. STANTON WIRE FULLER Filed Jan. 5, 1931 a 4 J M .5 2 2 v m 0% I 3 4 W Z 3 V! a .\L v 5 7 2 w 6 8 7 P z a om wmxmu 5 a a Fig. a

Patented Mar. 22, 1932' UNITED STATES PATENT." OFFICE;

WILLARD J. STANTON, OF' CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,'ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ASSOCIATED ELECTRIC LABORATORIES, INC., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORA- TION OF DELAWARE WIRE FULLER,

Application filed January 5, 1931. Serial No. 506,629.

This invention relates in general to wire pulling or gripping devices for use by linemen in stringing telephone or telegraph wires in connection with electrical line construction, and the principle'object of the invention consists in providing an improved device of this character embodying a numberof desirable advantages. I

- Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a wire puller having a movable aw or clamp which "is operated in a direction at right-angles to the length of the wire to thereby exert a more effective pulling force on the wire without cutting and bending the same.

A further object is to provide a removable clamping jaw which may be readily removed from the wire puller and be reversed in order toaccommodate either insulated or bare wire conductors.

An additional object is toprovide a series of link members between the movable jaw and the draft bar, upon which-the pull is exerted, so that a certain pull upon the draft bar will be translated by the link members into an increased pressure of the jaws ofthe device exerted in a direction at right-angles to the direction of the pull and the length of the wire.

Additional objects and features of the present invention resides in providing a simple, durable, and effective construction of wire pulling clamp which may be-economically manufactured while at the same time embodying a number of' desirable advantages over previously manufactured ers. j

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a full side elevation of the wire puller is its operated position; Fig. 2, an end view of Fig.1; Fig; 3, a rear perspective elevation of Fig. 1 showing types of wire pullthe clamp in its open position ready to receive a wire; Fig. 4, a front elevation of the clamp in its open position with the movable aw removed, so as to show the arrangement of the-various parts, whileFig. 5, is a crosssectional end view along, the line ,55'0f Fig. 4. a

- Referring'now more particularly to Fig. l,

the wire puller consists principally of the metal body portion 4 having an extended portion 5 and avlower curved-up wire receiving jaw 6. An extended portion 7 formed integral'with the body frame 4: has a rivet 9 extending through it. for securing the pair of link members 8 and 8 on each side of the extension 7. The rivet, 9, together with the washer '10 forms a pivot point for one end of thelink members 8 and 8 onto the frame portion 7. Between the opposite ends of the link members 8 and 8 the link member '11 is pivoted by means of rivet 12 and washer 13. Thislin'kmember 13 has a U-shaped extensionl c formed on the otherend'of it and provided with holes through each of the earssothat the rivet 16, which is movable back and forth'in the slot 17 of the extension 5. 'of the body 4, may securely bind the draft bar onto the link member 11 and the body 4. Extending through a hole in the link members 8 and 8, a short distance from the rivet 9, is an additional rivet 19, which to gether with the washer 20, pivotally secures one end of each of the link members 18 and 18 to the pair of link members 8 and 8. A removable bolt extends through a slot 32 from the rear of the body 4, through holes in the opposite ends of both ofthe link members 18 and 18', and is held in position in these link members by means of the spring member 2 6 one end ofwhich is pivoted to the link member 18 by rivet 27. The'spring member 26is arranged tov be rotated about the pivot 27, and has an open end engaging the slottededge (see Fig. 5) of the bolt 25 so that thebolt maybe withdrawn by swinging the spring member 26 away from'it. I The removable bolt 25 extends through a hole in the movable jaw 21 which is held in position between the link members '18 and 18.

The upper portion of the clamping aw 21, is constructed of relatively hard metal which is knurled and provided with a numberaof spaced grooves on the surface. The lower edge 24 of the jaw 21 is constructed of relatively soft metal, suchas copper or brass, and is'securely fastened to the jaw 21 by means slides.

of rivets, not indicated. The movable jaw is guided and held in position on the body portion 4 by means of the lugs 22 and 23 formed integral with the body 4 on each side of the jaw. These lugs prevent endwise play of the jaw when pressure is applied on to it and it grips the wire against the fixed jaw or portion 6.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 4. The link-member 18' is movable up and down in the slot-shaped portion 33 formed out of the frame 4, and is arranged so that the link 18' will be flush with the inside surface of the frame 4, upon which the marble jaw 21 The slot 32 limits the movement for the rivet 25 which-secures the jaw '21. to the link members 18 and 18. r

i In the operation of this pulling device the draft bar is pushed forward and through the medium of the link members the movable jaw 21 is opened away from the fixed jaw 6, as indicated in Fig. 4. The wire to be stretched is then laid in the V-sha-ped groove 35 on the turned-up or fixed jaw 6 of the frame 4. If theconductor to be stretched is of'bare wire construction the soft metal portion 24 of the jaw 21 is used. Pulling force is then exertedupon the draft bar 15 by means of block and tackle, which through the medium of the rivet 16, pulls the link member 11 outward in the slot 17 formed in the frame 4. The movement of the link member 11 exerts a similar movement upon the pair of link members 8 and 8 through the medium of the rivet 12. The link members 8 and 8 pivoted to the projection 7"of the frame 4, by means of the rivet 9, thereby exert a downward pressureof the link members 18 and 18' throughthe medium of the rivet 19. v The opposite ends of the link members 18 and 18 are secured to the jaw 21 by the movable bolt 25, andfrom this arrangement it is seen that the jaw 21 thereby exerts an increased amount of pressure upon the wire in comparison to the pulling force exerted upon the draft bar 15, resulting in securely gripping the wire and allowing it to be pulled or stretched. As more pressure or pulling force is-applied to the draftbar 15, the link members multiply and transmit this force onto the jaw 21 andborrespondingly increase the pressure upon the wire. Due to the fact that the jaw 21 moves onto the wire in a direction at right-angles to the length of the wire and at right-angles to thedirection in which the pulling force is applied,

cutting, marring, bending, or scratching of the wire is prevented, and as a further precaution the soft metal portion 24 of theaw 21 is in direct clamping engagement with the wire.

The lugs 22 and 23 of the body portion 4 prevent endwise movement of the jaw 21 when pressure is applied upon it, and assist in maintaining. it in direct'contact with the wire. The link member 18 being guided in the slot portion 33 of the frame 4, by the bolt moving in slot 32, further guides the jaw 21 in a direction at right-angles to the movement and pressure exerted upon the jaw.

In case it is desired to stretch or pull a wire having an insulated coating, the soft metal portion 24 of the jaw 21 is not used to grip the wire, as this would have a tendency to squeeze and possibly scrape off the insulated coating on the wire- The jaw 21 accordingly reversed in its support on the body frame 4. This is accomplished by moving the spring member 26 about the pivot 27in a direction away-from and out of engagement with the slotted end of the bolt 25, as indicated in Fig. 4. This permits the bolt 25 to be withdrawn from the rear of the body 4 out of engagement with the links 18 and 18 and the jaw 21, as seen in Fig. 3, and permits the jaw 21 to be removed. The jaw is then put back in a reverse position from what it formerly was,

that is, the knurled top edge will then be on the bottom in operative relation to the fixed aw 6 and the soft metal part 24 will be on the top of the body 4. Bolt 25 is then pushed through the rear of the frame 4 through the ends of the link members 18 and 18 and through the reversed jaw 21, and after the bolt has been completely placed into position the spring member 26 is pivoted about a rivet 27 and the open-ended portion again engages the circular slot around the end of the bolt 25 to securely lock the assemblyin position as a unit.

The insulated wire is then placed in the groove of the portion 6 and then the draft bar 15 has force exerted upon it so l that the jaw 21 securely clamps the wire against the portion 6. It will be noted that the surface of the jaw 21 which is in direct engagement with the insulated. wire is knurled, and at regular intervals has a groove cut at right-angles to the length of the wire. With this type ofgripping surface upon the wire it will be securely held in position while pulling force is exerted upon it, and due to the knurled edges and grooves, be prevented from becoming scratched, marred, or bent in any manner. lnaddition it will be noted that the V-shaped groove 35 upon the inside surface of the portion 6 provides a surface which engages the insulated conductor at only two points. The jaw 21 clamping against the wire presents only single gripping surface, so that the wire is secured, therefore, at three different points in the wire puller.

The washers 10, 13, and 20, which are riveted onto the rivets 9, 12, and 19, respectively, serve as bearing surfaces for the various link members with which they are in engagement, thereby considerably reducing only to the extent of the appended claims.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that novel type of wire pulling device has been conceived in which, through the medium of the link members 18 and 18',

considerable more pressure may be exerted upon the jaw 21than hasbeen possible in previous types of devices of this nature. This added pressure considerably increases the gripping power of the aw 21 upon the wire, so that less pulling force may be exert ed upon the draft member 15 and this be transmitted through the link members as an increased force upon the wires, and due to the soft metal portion 24 of the jaw 21 and the opposite edge of the jaw 21 being knurled or grooved, bending, bruising, or scratching of the different kinds of wire is practically eliminated. It will be seen that due to the increased force transmitted through the link members 18 and 18 the wire puller will be prevented from being accidentally displaced or dropped from the Wire with which it is in engagement. The weight of. the device also tends to hold it in position on the wire instead of the usual spring which formerly was provided to normally keep the jaws closed. When it is desired to remove the device from the wire the draft bar 15 has the pulling force removed for it and it is pushed forward in the slot 17, thereby moving the link' members 11, 8, and 8', and 18 and 18 to move the jaw 21 upward and release the Wire. Due to the fact that the jaw 21 engages the wire in a direction at right-angles to its length and at rightangles to the force exerted upon thewire puller, squeezing, bending, or marring'of the wire is avoided. This has considerable advantages over previous types of wire pullers in which the pulling force was exerted upon the wire by a jaw being clamped onto the wire in a direction other than at rightangles to it or by means of a cam.

When the wire puller is to be used on insulated wire or similar kinds of wire it is merely necessary to disengage the spring member 26 from the bolt 25, remove the jaw 21 and reverse it and place it back in position again.

This eliminates the use of several different types of wire pullers for different kinds of wire, and it is of great advantage where work of this nature is to be performed.

As only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated, it will be understood of course, that any number of variations from that disclosed may be made by those skilled in the art, and it is, therefore, not desired to be limited to the exact structure shown, but

" What i'sclaimedis: y

a 1. a In Ia wire, puller having a body portion, a fixed jawfo'rmed 'inte al with said body portion, a movable jaw slidably supported on said bodyrportionfa roughened edge and a smooth edge on opposite sides of said movable jaw, link members connecting said movable j aw: and said body portion for moving said movable jaw, and means on one of said link members for 'removably fastening said movable jaw on said body portion,- so that said movable jawimay be removed and replaced with either said roughened edge or said smooth edge opposite said fixed jaw.

2. In a wire puller having a body portion, a wire receiving fixed jaw formed integral therewith, a movable jaw disposed opposite said fixed jaw and slidably supported in said body portion, a bolt extending through said movable jaw and engaging said body portion to limit the movement of said movable jaw, ,link members connecting said bolt and said body portionfor transmitting motion to said movable jaw, and means on said link mem bers for removably locking said bolt in position on said movable jaw so that said jaw may be disengaged fromsaid body portion.

3. In a wire puller having a body portion and a wire receiving fixed j aw formed integral therewith, a movable jaw disposed opposite said fixed jaw and slidably supported on said body portion, a plurality of link members connecting said movable jaw and said a body portion to transmit motion to said movable jaw, a bolt; extending through said movable jaw for engaging said link members, and

means on said link members for removably locking said bolt in position and to permit said bolt to be withdrawn and said movable jaw disengaged from said body portion.

4. In a wire puller, a body portion having I a horizontally disposed fixed jaw formed integral therewith, a movable jaw disposed opposite said fixed jaw and slidably supported on said body portion, said movable jaw having a roughened edge on one side for insulated wire and a smooth edge on the opposite side for bare wire, link members con? necting said movable jaw with said body portion, adraft bar for transmitting emotion f to said link member to operate said movable jaw, and means on said. link members for removably supporting said movable jaw on said body portion so that, the rough edge or the smooth edge may be placedopposite said fixed jaw.

5. In a wire puller, a body portion having a Wire receiving fixed jaw formed integral Y members on said body portion connecting therewith, a movable jaw disposed opposite with said movable jaw for moving it against said; fixed jaw and a wire clamped there-between, and means on said link members engagingsaid movable jaw for removably lockingit in position on said body portion to permit disengagement of said movable jaw so that either the soft metal portion of said jaw 01' the knurled edge may be placed into engagement with a wire to be pulled.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 31st day of December, A. D.

WILLARD J. STANTON. 

